Modelled after the annual community service and student development trips, co-ordinated by North American universities during the popular “spring break period”, the Alternative Break concept was facilitated by Kathy-Ann Lewis and Shilohna Phillanders of the university’s Division of Student Services and Development (DSSD).

Speaking about the inspiration behind the programme, Lewis and Phillanders acknowledged the importance of facilitating student learning outside of the traditional classroom setting as well as the value of learning that incorporates community engagement.

Recognising the global status of the university, they also appreciated the idea of giving students an experience which would further develop them as global citizens through the development of soft skills such as networking, interpersonal communication skills, team building, leadership and cultural sensitivity.

Once on the island the students from different disciplines within the university, partnered with the Grenada Community Development Agency (GRENCODA) for a painting and landscaping project in the Rosehill community, which was recently identified as one of the more economically depressed communities on the island.

The UWI students also spent a day presenting skits and lectures for students of Grenada’s Mac Donald College on the topics of time management and the value of education, in a bid to further motivate their younger counterparts as well as encourage them to realise the potential of a well-rounded education.

Ensuring there was a balanced experience, participants also visited some of Grenada’s top attractions inclusive of Grand Anse Beach, Grand Etang Lake, Lake Antoine and Leapers Hill. In addition to discovering the island, participants were also given the opportunity to discover themselves in a daily team building and self-reflection exercise.

Reflecting on her time spent in Grenada, Krystal Teemul admitted: “My initial expectations were nothing in comparison to what I experienced.” Summarising the impact of the experience she said: “Not only was it an opportunity to travel and explore a different culture but I was able to learn skills that are necessary to me reaching my full potential as a productive individual in society.” Moving forward, Lewis and Phillanders expressed their desire to have the programme include students of the university’s Mona and Cave Hill campuses, to foster greater regional co-operation.

They also expressed hope that similar programmes would become much more available in TT to help students become more well-rounded individuals and realise, that their impact does not just make a difference in their immediate space but that it also transcends boundaries.

This flagship programme facilitates the transfer of knowledge from accomplished artists and cultural workers to emerging practitioners in their respective fields. It is also an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of these mentors for their contribution to the artistic and cultural community.

The mentors for this year’s programme are Janice Patricia McLeod, Orisha traditions; Lionel Jagessar, Fancy Indian mas; Rosalind Gabriel, children’s mas; Sharon Pitt, professional development in broadcasting and Simeon Sandiford, aspects of music production and the business of music.

Addressing the audience at the launch, Permanent Secretary Angela Edwards reiterated the commitment of the ministry in investing in the local cultural resources such as the tangible and intangible heritage in the communities and the culture and creative industries, said a media release.

She said the programme was critical to the ministry’s mission to build resilient, culturally- rich communities and sustainable creative industries.

The future of TT is in excellent hands because the programme focuses on the culture, history and the legacy of what makes us unique as Trinidadians and Tobagonians, Edwards said.

Director of the Culture Division Ingrid Ryan-Ruben said the focus of this year’s programme was all-encompassing.

Emphasis will be placed on Carnival arts because there were a lot of masters but few mentees. In addressing the mentees she told them that they had the opportunity to carry their art to a new level.

She also implored them to learn from these mentors but also use their creativity and inject new life into the art forms because these are pivotal to the county’s heritage.

During the event, culture support specialist Elize Rostant paid tribute to two former mentors and national cultural icons, the late Narcenio “Senor” Gomez and Stephen Derek.

The tribute to Derek, master craftsman extraordinaire was done through a Power Point presentation in which tributes were done by Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly, Minister of Community Development, Culture and the Arts; other ministry officials and mentors of the 2016 programme.

The event centered on the theme “Fatherhood in Society: Issues and Solutions” and the discussions focused on the absence of legislation governing parental kidnapping and parental alienation.

Gregoire-Roopchan said the authority also does psycho-social intervention to restore the child’s functioning and this focuses heavily on co-parent intervention so that the parents become aware of how their behaviour impacts on the child and make progressive steps to being the child back into focus.

One of the highlights of the session was input from Scott Berne of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, described as a survivor of parental kidnapping.

Speaking via Skype, he told participants he was abducted by his mother after the bitter divorce of his parents.

He said he was nine years old when his parents divorced and he was placed in the custody of his father.

However, on their first unsupervised visit together, his mother abducted him.

He told the meeting of two years of brainwashing, during which his mother changed his name and warned him against talking to the police if he was stopped. He said he was brainwashed by his mother to the extent that he believed that his father was dead. He said he was kept out of school for two years, had no friends and did not even know his own name.

He said that he was forced to move from place to place at short notice and even when she was caught, his mother did not surrender and had to be arrested and jailed.

Berne said he was placed in “Juvenile Hall” and his recovery was long and hard and it took him a long time to move from being a victim to a survivor.

President of the association Rhondall Feeles said parental kidnapping is an offence against a child and most children who go through parental kidnapping suffer as Berne did. He asked why parents would commit such an offence against their own child. Saying it was an act of domestic abuse, he insisted that there should be deterrence and consequences in local legislation.

Also addressing the gathering was Jennifer Alleyne of National Family Services. She said that the kidnapping of children is not the only abuse they suffer.

She said sometimes one parent wants to leave a dysfunctional relationship and may remove the child or children from the home, taking them to some other relative.

She said the parent might migrate to the United States with the promise of sending for the children at a later date.

Alleyne said children in such situations suffer loss of identity, wondering about who they are, and where their mothers were.

She advised parents to be very careful when making decisions about their children.

In a media statement yesterday, political leader David Abdulah said 25 per cent of the population or more than 300,000 people live in poverty even though the country had experienced oil and gas booms in the recent past.

“Now that we are in a period of economic crisis due to the fall in oil and gas prices and the rapid decline in the production of oil and gas and petrochemicals; the situation will get much worse for workers,” Abdulah said, adding thousands of workers had lost their jobs by retrenchment or non-renewal of contracts while young workers, including thousands of university graduates, cannot find decent jobs.

“Some employers are cutting workers’ pay and forcing them to work longer hours without overtime; prices are going up every day making it difficult for families to make ends meet; additional taxes are being piled on the backs of workers; farmers and our nation’s food producers are fighting every day just to survive and small business-people and the self-employed are seeing sales fall and fear losing their business.” He said nothing is being done to stop corruption and white collar crime as neither of the two traditional parties possess “any commitment whatsoever to creating a more just and equitable society.

In preparing to write this article I decided to start noting down the ways in which I dealt with coming to terms with the loss of my father –Alva who passed away in October.

The process was no easy feat because even though my profession requires that I keep up-to-date with scientific research and studies on the subject, and undergo regular refresher training, I am not immune to the effects of grief.

In anticipation of shedding few tears I armed myself with a tissue but soon realised that I was kidding myself – one tissue was not going to be enough to quell the floodgates because my grief is still raw.

Grief is one of those complicated all encompassing feelings that takes on a life of its own with a gamut of emotions and processing stages, but it is a natural response to losing someone or something important.

There are five common stages of grief:

Denial – which is a defence mechanism to cope the initial overwhelming emotional turmoil

Anger – feelings of frustration that the person has left you

Negotiation – questioning if there was anything you could have done to prevent the loss

Sadness – a sense of loss and/or loneliness

Acceptance – feeling sad but with the ability to accept the reality and move on with life But grief is subjective –I am a true Brit when it comes to coping with loss so my natural tendency is to maintain a stiff upper lip and react in a controlled way. But everyone’s response is unique so there are those who lash out in anger or others who will become introverted.

Grief is therefore deeply personal varying in type, severity, duration and responses. For example, in circumstances where a person is still alive in body but not in mind and the situation does not provide a space for closure of a loss, it is possible to experience ambiguous grief due to the unresolved loss.

There can be situations where people experience Complicated Grief Disorder also known as traumatic, prolonged or chronic grief. This can be accompanied by depression, anxiety and PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), and some people also experience intrusive thoughts, suicidal ideation, helplessness and hopelessness, and may try to numb their pain by embarking on damaging behaviours such as excessive working, overeating or dependency to and misuse of substances.

Though grief can take a toll on both emotional and physical well-being, there is no right or wrong way to grief or a usual amount of time in which to go through the process. It all depends on the individual’s personality, circumstances, belief, and support available. For example, a person’s grief can be intensified and sustained over a long period of time if they have underlying health complications.

Grief has a tendency to create feelings of vulnerability and anxiety and one of the most natural reactions will be avoidance – whether it is to places, situations or social contact but the knock-on effect is that the isolation will exacerbate and prolong the state of grief.

Coping with grief and loss is for the most part about managing the practicalities of day-to-day life while dealing with the emotions, which can be easier said than done, especially given all the other pressures in life. So, the importance is to seek out coping strategies to help with the loss and adjust to any changes that may have occurred. Journalling, talking, meditating, exercising, eating healthy, keeping hydrated, forging and maintaining meaningful relationships, and giving yourself permission to go through the grieving process can prove to be useful.

To quote Rose Fitzgerard Kennedy: “It has been said, time heals all wounds. I do not agree.

The wounds remain. In time, the mind protecting its sanity, covers them with scar tissue and the pain lessens. But it never goes.” Remember that with time the sun will shine again.

Dr Yansie Rolston FRSA is a UK-based disability and mental health specialist advisor. She is a social strategist and trainer who works internationally at various levels of government, business and civil society. Contact her at yr@efficacyeva.com

TT were beaten 2-1 at the Costa Rica National Stadium in San Jose, but Look Loy pointed out that the absence of Jones, the national captain and striker, saw the speedy Boatswain, as well as midfielders Kevin Molino, Joevin Jones and Nathan Lewis, in use more often than the Costa Ricans would have anticipated.

“We saw a hint of the potential of this team when we play with an approach that I think is more natural and more rationale, given the abilities and the strengths of our players, which is quick counter-attacks into the spaces, along the sides of the pitch and behind the opposing defence,” said Look Loy, during a recent interview.

“The injury to Kenwyne Jones, and I hope he’s alright, gave the opportunity for us to play without him,” he continued. “I have been saying that successive coaches should have been doing so for years now. We looked dangerous when we allowed our players to run.

“When we’re playing with Kenwyne Jones, and his hold-up play, the attack is static, even stagnant.

When we were able to release men on the sides of the pitch and release Boatswain up front, we created panic in the Costa Rican team.” Commenting on the match itself, Look Loy, who is also the president of the Trinidad and Tobago Super League, as well as coach of FC Santa Rosa, noted, “We should not have lost.

“We should have at least drawn (but) didn’t, if only because the assistant referee, who was probably no more than 15 yards away, with a clear sight-line, didn’t give what was an obvious penalty (against Boatswain in the 51st minute).

“These things happen in football, as hard as they are to stomach.” But Look Loy pointed out, “The reason why we lost the game was because (of) a very poor defensive performance that allowed two goals, too much space allowed to opponents, in and around the penalty area, and they penalised us for it.” On the flip side, he said, “We got a favour from Honduras with that (2-2) draw in Panama City.

Panama haven’t been going very well and they have been dropping points at home, where we have to go. I never give up and I believe we must fight till the end.

“I think with changes in formation and changes in selection, and if we get all points in Panama (and at home to) Honduras, and all points against the United States, that would give us 12. Call me a dreamer, I have not given up hope as yet.”

ACTT ’s fifth National Quiz on Quality Assurance in Higher Education and Training is targeted towards students of forms three and four.

Its objective is to increase awareness among students and other stakeholders of the importance and benefits of quality assurance in higher education and training.

In addition, ACTT aims to highlight the contribution of quality higher education to developing the national workforce, said a media release.

The quiz competition begins October 4, with the final round taking place on November 2. The council will award some $60,000 in prizes, inclusive of cash for each team member, UT C vouchers for the coaches, trophies and a cash prize for the victorious school. Coaches have until June 23 to register their schools.

ACTT ’s Essay and Poster Competition begins on August 2, with the goal of guiding students to make informed decisions when pursuing higher education and training. The target audiences for the essay component are students of forms five and six, as well as undergraduate students at tertiary level institutions that are registered and accredited by ACTT . The poster component is open to secondary students in forms one to three.

Candidates of the Essay and Poster Competition should make their submissions on or before September 22. The 2017 winners will receive an iPad Air, book vouchers and a complimentary Statement on Recognition from ACTT . Winners of the Poster Component will receive UT C vouchers totalling $6,500.

As the principal body responsible for the quality assurance of higher education and training institutions and programmes, the ACTT is committed to presenting educational and informational platforms that are focused on students at secondary schools, post secondary and tertiary institutions, the release said.

Last year winner, St Joseph’s Convent of San Fernando beat 2015 champion Cowen Hamilton Secondary School of Fifth Company Village, Moruga, into second place.

ACTT encourages schools and students to enter the competitions as they provide an opportunity to gain knowledge and insights on issues in the higher education sector. As well as inspire students to make informed choices when selecting quality higher education and training institutions and programmes of study.

For more info and registration: www.

actt.org.tt or e-mail quiz@actt.org.tt or essaycompetition@ actt.org.tt or call 623- 2500.

Take, for instance, President Donald Trump. He’s had his fair share of controversial headlines, but First Lady Melania seems to be captivating everyone with her sense of style and dignity.

She has overcome her plagiarism incident in the primaries and emerged as a strong, dignified First Lady who swats away her husband’s hand-holding gestures at inappropriate times.

Everyone is waiting to see what causes she will support and how she will define herself as a First Lady.

First Ladies are interesting in their own right as you will see if you decide to read two of my favourite books – First Ladies: From Martha Washington to Michelle Obama by Betty Caroli and Madam President: The Secret Presidency of Edith Wilson by William Hazelgrove.

Students preparing for CXC, CAPE and SAT exams should read both of these books because they are excellent examples of literature that builds analytical skills for Caribbean and US exams.

(The Scholastic Aptitude Test, known as the SAT , is the entrance exam for US universities).

First Ladies: From Martha Washington to Michelle Obama… presents vignettes on all of the First Ladies with the exception of Melania Trump, but what is more important is the book’s ability to present the development of the First Lady’s job, which changed and developed according to society’s definition of wives at various times in history.

Readers will see women developing in three distinct ways: as individuals, as trusted spouses of the president and as representatives of US culture.

On the other hand, Madame President concentrates on one First Lady, Edith Wilson who ran the White House after her husband, President Woodrow Wilson suffered a debilitating stroke.

There is no real dispute that this happened and the author lays out a compelling case for Edith being the first woman president of the US.

Edith’s power is well documented so there doesn’t seem to be much for an author to write about.

Hazelgrove creates an intriguing story of how Edith came into the picture as Wilson’s second wife and how she garnered so much power.

Weaving history throughout the story, Hazelgrove opts for a book that follows no semblance of chronological order. In this way, he is able to present the story like a puzzle with each interlocking piece leading to the big picture. His total disregard for the order of events forces readers to engage in textualisation by constantly turning back to chapters to remind themselves where they are in terms of the past or present. While some readers found the structure disconcerting (there will always be people who prefer a clear time frame for a story) most readers did notice the structure and commented on its effectiveness. Madame President is not a perfect book. The author overdid the mention of Edith as president.

He did an admirable job of showing this so it felt unnecessary to mention it so often.

Hazelgrove paints a clear picture of both Edith and Woodrow Wilson capturing them as a fiction writer would by developing well-rounded characters whose faults are plain to see. It is a masterful blend of biography and history presented with a clearly defined theme.

Ramsaroop from Chase Village, Chaguanas was last seen by relatives one week ago.

Coast guards were called in by fishermen who saw the body floating in the waters.

San Fernando police are continuing investigations.

The body was sent to the Forensics Science Centre where an autopsy is to be done tomorrow.

The two groups will present a preview concert, Joyful Two, on Sunday at the Holy Rosary RC Church, , Henry Street in Port of Spain at 6pm. Jessel Murray, senior lecturer at UWI and head of the Department of Festival and Creative Arts (DCFA), will conduct the ensembles.

To tour to Belize and Mexico will kick-start the DCFA’s 30th anniversary celebrations.

The tour is from July 18 to 28.

UWI is the largest institution of higher learning in the English- speaking Caribbean with campuses in Trinidad, Barbados, Jamaica, and the Open Campus. Belize is part of the Open Campus system. In Belize, the chorale and steel will be hosted by the University of Belize and will perform formal concerts at various locations, including the country’s premier concert site, the Bliss Centre for the Performing Arts, as well as the University of Belize in the capital, Belmopan.

While at the university, the two groups will form part of the installation ceremony of Prof Clement Sankat as the president of the university.

Sankat was most recently the principal of UWI, St Augustine.

In Mexico, the chorale and steel have been invited to perform at the University of Quintana Roo in Chetumal.

Previous tours by the chorale and steel have included performances in Barbados, Martinique, Massachusetts and New York.

Joyful Two is a mélange of performances featuring exciting performances by the UWI Arts Chorale and Steel – as well as vocal and pan soloists.

The chorale performs excerpts from the Brahms Ziguenerlieder (Gypsy Songs) in the original German, as well as Broadway selections, folk and calypso music including their well-known treatment of David Rudder’s Calypso Music.

The steel performs the world premiere of a Jeannine Remy work, Overture, as well as arrangements of classic and not so classic calypso/soca – Pan in Harmony and Ah Feeling ah Feeling, among others. Together, the chorale and steel perform the famous and popular Schubert Mass in G, originally set for voices and strings. The programme is enlivened with pan solos as well as solos and duos from the chorale’s vast treasury of musical theatre, including Andrew Lloyd Webber selections and the virtuoso Glitter and Be Gay aria from Candide sung by soloist Sadie Baxter.

Tickets cost $150 each and are available from UWI Arts Chorale and UWI Arts Steel members, the Rosary Church Office and at the Department of Creative and Festival Arts.